Facing the Darkness

Summary: Aragorn tends Faramir and Merry in the Houses of Healing while preparing for what may be his last battle.

Deep Wounds

These
characters all belong to the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien and New Line
Cinema. This story was written for pleasure and not for financial
gain.

A/N
This story is a prequel to "The Hidden Days of Healing" also on
this site. The story is based on a mixture of the book and the film
mixed freely with my own imagination.

I did
only intend to write one "Lord of the Rings" story but the
response I received to "The Hidden Days of Healing" amazed me and
encouraged me to write more.

This is
dedicated to all my loyal readers.

Facing the Darkness

Aragorn
knew he had to talk to Faramir in case he never had another chance. The Host was due to set out to Mordor at first light tomorrow.

Faramir
deserved to know of his brother's last moments and how bravely he
had fought to defend the Hobbits. Aragorn hated to have to tell
him now, while he was still lying recovering, but still very weak in
the Houses of Healing.

This was
the last thing Aragorn would usually do, cause emotional distress to
one as weak as Faramir still was. Yet if he were to fall before the
Black Gate of Mordor, Faramir would never have the chance to hear of
his beloved brother's death from the one who was with him at the
time. Maybe he would gain some peace of mind from knowing
the truth?

Aragorn
was exhausted after the battle, tending those under the shadow of the
black breath and debating with the other leaders about how best they
could give Frodo a chance to destroy the Dark Lord's power, but he
would not rest until he had fulfilled the duty he felt he owed both
to Boromir and Faramir.

Clad
simply with his grey cloak concealing the green gem he wore, he made
his way to the young captain's room, hoping that he was stronger
now.

The
struggle to save Faramir's life had been the hardest Aragorn had
ever experienced.

So deeply
had Faramir fallen into shadow and despair, and never before had he
needed to reach so deeply into the mind of another to lead them back
into the world of the living.

Aragorn
had sensed such darkness and despair, a gentle soul driven to the
very limits and yet underneath the shadow, he sensed a kindred
spirit, which had made him all the more determined to save Faramir's
life, whatever the cost to his own strength.

And
indeed the cost was high as his companions had all feared for his own
well being before Bergil had brought some athelas, which served to
revive both Faramir and himself.

When he
entered Faramir's room, the healers were tending his wounds and he
was propped up in bed with his nightshirt pulled down to his waist.
For the first time it struck Aragorn how painfully thin the young man
was and the many old or partially healed wounds on his body showed
evidence of long hardship and neglect.

Faramir
blushed scarlet as the King entered the room and tried to rise and
pull up his nightshirt. His expression suggested the mixture of the
love and respect, which Aragorn had noticed two nights before but now
that was overshadowed by a look of overwhelming fear.

Faramir
fell back against the pillows caught by the healers' restraining
hands.

Aragorn
smiled attempting to reassure him." There is nothing to apologise
for Faramir." he said gently." I only wished to speak to you."
He wondered, not for the first time, how he could approach the
subject of Boromir's death.

He then
turned to the healers.

"I will
tend his wound myself." The King said.

"As you
wish, my Lord." The healers bowed and left, grateful to have one
less to tend as many were waiting for their help in these dark days.

Aragorn
felt Faramir's flushed brow and once reassured he was not feverish
but merely ill at ease, took the bowl of warm water the healers had
left and started to bathe the wound on Faramir's shoulder.

It was
healing well and Aragorn felt relieved, although he feared the muscle
was damaged, which could cause Faramir much future pain if neglected.

"It is
not fitting that my King should be tending me." Faramir protested.

"I have
been a healer far longer than I have been a King, if indeed I am ever
crowned as such, should I return from Mordor. Tell me if this wound
continues to pain you as I think I will need to give you more
treatments." Aragorn replied, gently dabbing the injured shoulder
dry with a towel and applying a salve the sons of Elrond had
provided, not only to the arrow wound, but also to the other half
healed hurts across the younger man's chest and shoulders.

Faramir
flinched at each touch, despite the slow gentle movements of the
King's fingertips and hissed as the ointment stung the raw flesh
even though he was far gentler than the healers of Gondor, who had
attended him.

Strange
warmth emanated from the King's hands, which felt both soothing and
frightening to Faramir, as he had never encountered anything quite
like it before.

He stared
mutely at his hands lying limply on the coverlet as if lost in
thought.

The King
wondered whether it was the wounds or something else that caused
Faramir so much pain.

He placed
a soft pad of cloth over the shoulder wound and started to wind a
bandage across Faramir's chest and round his back to keep it in
place.

He moved
round the bed and gasped when he saw the lash
wounds decorating the exposed back.They could not have been
inflicted more than a few days ago.What
horrors had this man endured? He wondered.

Fortunately,
Faramir seemed too nervous at being in the presence of his King to
even notice the look of horror on the other's face.

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A little slow in the beginning, but once the tide came in, I was caught up in it, and couldn't escape. I read it through without stopping, literally couldn't put it down. Above all, the ending was very satisfying.

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This book was absolutely amazing! I loved the close relationship between Honey and her parents, I also found it was interesting to see how Honey had changed as her and Liam became closer. Overall this was a great book and I hope the author writes a second, but if not continue writing because I l...

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Read this book in a couple of sittings and have kept it!!! Not one to read books again, but the story, the atmosphere, the descriptions, the humour, all right up my Blackpool street. Very cleverly written, sets the scene from the start, love how you get to really know the characters, must've look...

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